Slot machine hearing delayed

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - June 27, 2008

Attempts to limit the number of slot machines in Vernon could take a little longer. A July 14 public hearing on a proposed bylaw that would restrict slot machines to 400 in Vernon has been postponed so the bylaw can possibly include wording that would keep such gaming devices centralized at one site. “It will mean quite a bylaw change than what we saw before,” said Leon Gous, chief administrative officer. It was just on Monday that council gave three readings to the bylaw that would limit the number of slot machines in the community to 300. At that time, Coun. Barry Beardsell suggested that slot machines should be at one location and not spread throughout town. Because of that, it was decided during a special meeting Thursday that the originally scheduled July 14 public hearing on the bylaw should be postponed to another date. Had the currently proposed bylaw moved ahead as is, and then it was decided to restrict the location of slot machines in the future, a second public hearing would be required. By melding all of the issues into one process, there is only the need to go to the public once for input.“We want all of our ducks in a row,” said Coun. Buffy Baumbrough.It’s believed the new public hearing will be in either late July or early August.

Beardsell was not at Thursday’s meeting, but he defended the concept of a single site for slot machines Monday. “If they’re at one location, it’s easier to monitor and come to grips with problem gamblers,” he said. Lake City Casino is currently constructing a new 400-slot machine operation on Anderson Way. City officials state that even if the bylaw, which sets a limit of 300 machines, goes ahead, Lake City Casino could proceed with 400 machines because they were shown in designs submitted to the city. With 400 machines, the casino would be considered legally non-conforming under the proposed bylaw. Opposition to restricting the number of slot machines has come from Councillors Jack Gilroy and Patrick Nicol. “They (Lake City) took a building permit out for 400 machines and now we say they can only put in 300. That’s ridiculous,” said Gilroy. Beardsell has stated in the past that a limit is needed on slot machines because gambling has a significant negative impact on individuals, families and the community.